Educational Psychology Commons^™

Genetic And Environmental Interactions On Schizophrenia-Like Phenotypes In Chl1 Deficient Mice, J. Daniel Obray

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Schizophrenia is a debilitating disorder which is often characterized by dysregulation of the processing of sensory information. Schizophrenia has been shown to have a strong genetic component, as well as a strong environmental component. As such, a number of hypotheses such as the diathesis stress hypothesis have been developed to explain the etiology of schizophrenia. As most of these theories attempt to account for a genetic and an environmental factor, they are often viewed as double-hit models of schizophrenia. Several theories have emerged as potential explanations for the symptoms of schizophrenia. The dopamine hypothesis suggests that the basal level of …

Move, Interact, And Connect Personally Barter Theatre’S Project Real Gets Implicit In Order To Learn, Megan E. Atkinson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Body movement, hands-on activity, embodiment, social interaction, emotions, and self-reflection allow teaching artists of Barter’s Theatre’s Project REAL to conduct a lesson with an implicit learning experience as the focus. Barter Theatre’s Project REAL exists as a theatre for education program that collaborates with regular classroom teachers on delivering the curriculum through specific theatre exercises in order to connect the material personally to the students’ lives. Theatre tools provide a human experience that enhances learning for the student by use of kinesthetic movement, social learning, emotions and interpersonal skills. To understand the effects of Barter Theatre’s Project REAL, the director …

An Analysis Of Technical College Student Motivation To Pursue A Higher Grade In Core Academic Classes, Jeffrey Charles Hoffman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this predictive correlational study was to investigate the motivation of students seeking a vocation in the technical college setting. The study used Vroom's expectancy theory as it relates to students' beliefs in their ability to attain a higher grade (expectancy) and their desire for that grade (valence) to the effect on student academic effort (motivational force). The study's participants were selected from degree seeking students at a technical college in the Middle Georgia area. For the correlational element of the study, Hierarchical Multiple Regressions models were used and a statistically significant correlation was found, p < 0.05, thus supporting the use of the expectancy theory as an effective model for predicting student motivation resulting in a mean adjusted R² = .66. Further analysis from this data found that the predictors -valence and expectancy- can predict effort levels of motivation in the technical college degree student with near identical (p = .942) squared semi-partial correlation coefficients of .325 and.324 respectively. This correlational design, employing a within-persons decision-modeling research approach is an attempt to fill the gap in the research in the area of student motivation as it relates to technical college students, whose academics are designed for the sole purpose of preparing the student for employment in areas as diverse as accounting and welding.

Effects Of Instructor Attractiveness On Classroom Learning, Richard Shane Westfall

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Although there have been multiple studies examining the effects of physical attractiveness on a variety of human interactions, one domain has been largely overlooked. The current thesis examined the effect of teacher attractiveness on a learning task. Specifically participants were exposed to a photograph that they believed was their instructor while listening to an audio lecture. Upon completion of the lecture participants then completed a forced choice recognition task covering material from the lecture. I hypothesized that participants would perform significantly better on the learning task when they perceived their instructor to be high in physical attractiveness. Neither the gender …

Teachers' Sense Of Efficacy: Examining The Relationship Of Teacher Efficacy And Student Achievement, Nouf Abdullah Alrefaei

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate which teachers’ characteristics have an impact on teachers’ sense of efficacy. In addition, the relationship between mathematics and science fifth grade teachers’ sense of efficacy and student achievement was examined. Two characteristics related to teachers were examined: teachers’ years of teaching experience and teachers’ highest degree. Participants included 62 mathematics and science teachers from three school districts in Northwest Arkansas. When comparing fifth grade mathematics and science teachers’ efficacy beliefs based on their highest degree, a significant difference in teachers’ efficacy beliefs was found based on their degrees. Teachers with a Bachelor …

Living For Eternity: A Predictive Analysis Of Manifestations Of Biblical Worldview Of University Freshmen, Sharon Edge Wilkie

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study includes a predictive analysis of factors contributing to worldview and acts of volition, a correlative analysis of a biblical worldview, a non-biblical worldview, and acts of volition, and a comparative analysis of the influence of gender on worldview. The research design used a non-randomized, convenience sample and a Likert-type scale, which included original questions. The instrument measured three components of worldview: biblical, non-biblical, and acts of volition. Analysis of the data included multiple linear regression, bivariate correlation (Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient) and a univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA). Participants were freshmen attending a liberal arts Christian university. …

Lutheran Social Services Service Learning Project, Timothy D. Immelman, Cullen T. Mcanally, Dino V. Saracco

Celebrating Scholarship & Creativity Day (2011-2017)

Background: Lutheran Social Services (LSS) is an organization whose mission is to “express the love of Christ for all people through service that inspires hope, changes lives, and builds community.” A significant part of what they do involves leading afterschool activities that promote the learning of specific academic and life skills. Those learning objectives are as stated as follows: (1) working together, (2) communication, (3) following instructions, and (4) personal boundaries. As liberal arts students, we provide external perspectives regarding ways to enhance their four learning objectives.

Because they have our help in developing new leisure activities for their students, …

Undergraduate Chinese Student College Choice: Chinese Student Growth At The University Of Nebraska–Lincoln, Jacob Hoy-Elswick

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In this mixed methods study, the researcher explored the importance of institutional characteristics and people who were influential in the college choice of first-year undergraduate Chinese students at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL). The purpose of the research was to understand the impact and interplay of variables that previous research has shown to be significant in Chinese student decision making and how those variables applied to first-year students at UNL. A quantitative survey was administered to and completed by 25 students (n = 25) and analyzed through multivariate correlations. Qualitative surveys were then conducted with three students to gain depth …

Meta-Collaboration: Thinking With Another, Lori Desautels

Scholarship and Professional Work – Education

What if we could dramatically improve our thought processes and learning strategies by tapping into the social genius of another? What if a classmate, colleague, or friend could help us recognize and claim our strengths, new habits of thought, and strategies from a perspective that we never imagined by ourselves? As human beings, our survival depends on others. Our ability to cooperate and collaborate has trumped the stress response state of competition within our species and throughout evolution. With a group affiliation to nurture these relationships, we can strengthen and reappraise our own thought processes.

Changing The Culture: Developing Creative Problem Solvers, Eric L. Mann

Faculty Presentations

Mathematics embraces creativity and beauty yet often our children are immersed in classroom activities where these attributes are hidden by an overemphasis on algorithms, computational speed and known answers that can be found in the back of the book or with a quick Google search. This learning environment creates a false perception of what it means to be “good at math.” From the research we know than many of our elementary school teachers have negative attitudes towards mathematics; an attitude students pick up and adopt which may foster the development of the reluctant, impatient problem solvers we find in our …

Myth Or Reality: Catholic Inclusivity To Students From Other Religions, Nasser Razek

Counselor Education and Human Services Faculty Publications

This qualitative study explored the multifaceted issue of cultural and religious challenges for an international Muslim group at a Catholic research institution. Measures employed by the university community to assert the friendliness of campus to students from other religions and student perceptions of the effectiveness of these measures are surveyed to reveal the inclusion of students from several religious affiliations, especially Muslim students. The study was based on in-depth interviews with Muslim students.

Data analysis revealed constructs that are pivotal to the case including consistency in affirming the Catholic identity of the university; intentionally avoiding the usage of solely Christian …

Motivational Influences Of Using Peer Evaluation In Problem-Based Learning In Medical Education, Sara Abercrombie, Jay Parkes, Teresita Mccarty

Interdisciplinary Journal of Problem-Based Learning

This study investigates the ways in which medical students’ achievement goal orientations (AGO) affect their perceptions of learning and actual learning from an online problem-based learning environment, Calibrated Peer Review^TM. First, the tenability of a four-factor model (Elliot & McGregor, 2001) of AGO was tested with data collected from medical students (N = 137). Then, a structural regression model relating the factors of AGO to students’ perceptions of grading fairness, judgments of learning, and scoring accuracy was tested. The results indicate that student engagement and success in diagnosing a patient’s presentation using a peer feedback-rich web-based PBL environment …

Framing Group Projects: Leadership And Style In Small Group Dynamics, Jillian Bonafede

Honors Projects in Applied Psychology

The purpose of my Capstone was to look at small group dynamics and the factors that have a profound impact upon them. I used Bryant University’s IDEA Program as the template for my project for, and arena from which I collected my research. The IDEA Program is a three-day ideation and innovation program that all first-year students are required to participate in. I observed, filmed and questioned twenty-five of the first-year students participating in the program. After my research and analysis, I found that there were four factors that greatly influenced the dynamics of a small group, as well as …

Tiers 1, 2 & 3 Intervention: Student Engagement, Amber Olson, Reece L. Peterson

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Conclusion

Although it is a broad term which includes many potential components, student engagement is a critical component to both academic and behavioral success. Various research studies have linked positive student engagement to an increase in school success, a decrease in adolescent troubles, and a decrease in dropout risk (Skinner et al., 2008; Fredricks, Blumenfeld, & Paris, 2004; O’Farrell & Morrison, 2003; Stout & Christenson, 2009). Increasing teacher engagement and support has been identified as a key way to increase student engagement (Bryson & Hand, 2007). Various instruments can be used to assess the levels of student engagement within schools, …

Educational Learning Theories: 2nd Edition, Molly Zhou, David Brown

Education Open Textbooks

This open textbook was the result of a remix of pre-existing open materials collected and reviewed by Molly Zhou and David Brown. Learning theories covered include the theories of Piaget, Bandura, Vygotsky, Kohlberg, Dewey, Bronfenbrenner, Eriksen, Gardner, Bloom, and Maslow. The textbook was revised in 2018 through a Round Ten Revisions and Ancillary Materials Mini-Grant.

Topics covered include:

• Behaviorism
• Cognitive Development
• Social Cognitive Theory
• Experiential Learning Theory
• Human Motivation Theory
• Information Processing Theory

An Examination Of Supervisory Working Alliance, Supervisee Demographics, And Delivery Methods In Synchronous Distance Supervision, Robert Milton Carlisle Iii

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

The use of technology in synchronous supervision has increased throughout counselor education. The current study explored the degree of technology used in synchronous university supervision across counselor educations programs, examined the relationship between demographic variables (income, location from university, children 18 and under, and hours worked per week) and synchronous distance supervision, and examined the relationship between various synchronous supervision delivery methods and supervisory working alliance. A cross sectional, non-experimental correlational design was used and participants ( N = 673) consisted of supervisors and supervisees from CACREP accredited counselor education programs who have participated in university supervision. A statistically significant …

Masculinities, Gendered Expression, And The Social, Emotional, And Academic Well-Being Of High School Boys, Cynthia Bazinet

Educational Studies Dissertations

There has been longstanding concern over the seemingly intractable problem of boys’ academic achievement. Despite extensive research, there is little consensus among researchers and educators regarding best practices and approaches in mitigating and remediating the problem. This mixed-methods study sought to illuminate the issue further by focusing on the meaningful lived experiences of six young men aged 18 to 24 who attended and graduated from a central Massachusetts public high school. The study asked participants to reflect through prompted writing upon the stresses and pressures as well as the factors and conditions that affected their abilities to manage their performativities …

Educational Learning Theories (Lecture Slides), Molly Zhou, David Brown

Education Ancillary Materials

This set of lecture slides was created as part of a remix of pre-existing open materials collected and reviewed by Molly Zhou and David Brown. Learning theories covered include the theories of Piaget, Bandura, Vygotsky, Kohlberg, Dewey, Bronfenbrenner, Eriksen, Gardner, Bloom, and Maslow.

Student Adjustment To College: Examining The Impact Of An Outdoor Orientation Program, Timothy Posey, Eddie Hill, Edwin Gomez, Mike Mcfall, Shea Humenik, Dakota Clifford

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

This pilot study examined the impact of an outdoor orientation program (First Ascent) on participants’ level of transference, resilience, well-being and transition to college. Pre and posttest instruments were administered during a four- day college outdoor orientation program, as well as an open-ended series of questions. Nonparametric tests revealed significant differences from the pre- and posttest of the measures on skill transference and resiliency. Additional, individual items from each questionnaire were examined.

Assessment Of The Learning Climate, Basic Psychological Needs And Perceived Knowledge Transfer In An Active Classroom, Sanjana Hemanth

Open Access Theses

he thesis analyzes the impact of introducing active learning components by measuring the learning climate, basic psychological needs and perceived knowledge transfer of one course. This thesis has utilized the data obtained by the IMPACT team to evaluate the learning climate of the classroom with the evolution of the course by measuring the cognitive presence, learning presence and teaching presence in each of the semesters. The results of this study show the impact of the different elements of active learning in a classroom. The study of data over three semesters for one class is a model for other large intake …